Nuclear-capable Hatf-III test-launched

Rawalpindi - Pakistan conducted a successful training launch of short range surface to surface ballistic missile Hatf III (Ghaznavi) here on Tuesday.The missile can carry nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 290 kilometres. The successful launch concluded the field training exercise of strategic missile group of Army Strategic Forces Command. As per the statement released by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the training launch was witnessed by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Rashad Mahmood, Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Commander Army Strategic Forces Command Lieutenant General Obaid Ullah Khan, Chairman NESCOM Muhammad Irfan Burney and other senior military officials and scientists. Addressing the troops in the exercise area, the chairman joint chiefs of staff committee commended the troops on achieving technical and operational excellence in operating the state-of-the-art weapon system. He expressed his satisfaction over the training goals achieved during the exercise and hoped that the officers and men entrusted with the task of deterring aggression would continue to maintain professional excellence. The Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Rashad Mahmood also congratulated all the scientists and engineers for the successful launch of Ghaznavi Missile. He said it was another mile stone which had further strengthened the defence potential of Pakistan, besides assuring peace in the region. The successful test has also been warmly appreciated by the president and the prime minister who congratulated the troops, scientists and engineers on their outstanding achievement.